Since you're locked in at a low rate I would think twice about doing a HELOC. 

Just need to lock in the financing to move things forward.

If cash flow is your top priority, Cleveland's reliable rents and predictable income could be a strong contender.

I have a 3% rate locked in from 2021 so the LTR numbers will still cashflow so I'm going that route to start and that's the route I'm going to go.  

Market Selection Criteria: To choose the right market, consider factors such as:Economic Growth: Look for markets with strong job growth, a diverse economy, and increasing population.Rental Demand: Identify areas with high demand for rentals, which can be indicated by low vacancy rates and high rent-to-price ratios.Affordability: Ensure the market offers properties within your budget that also meet your cash flow and appreciation goals.Property Management Quality: Verify that there are reliable property management companies in the area to handle day-to-day operations, especially if you are investing from a distance.Comparative Market Analysis: Perform a comparative market analysis to compare potential markets.

If you lock in your costs in a market where rents will rise you will be golden.

It seems like if the owner operated as a sole proprietor having his or her assets locked, or personal cash flow locked would be a most likely scenario- for at least 90 days, possibly more???

While selling in Rochester and investing in states closer to Chicago would still require finding a reliable PM and likely making improvements, the advantage is that these new investments would be in a market that I can occasionally drive to.

@Glen Friedman Hello Glen,I found this thread on beware of FTF by googling bc I was thinking of investing some $$$ via Fund that Flip.From your links to FTF’s comms, it appears that they misrepresented the borrower’s reliability.

They forced the back door open, (you could see the minor damage to the back door), then went inside to the front door, removed the entire door lock and went off to have a key made, then they reinstalled the front door lock.